Jar dispenser cap



March 11, 1958 N. c. THOMSEN JAR DISPENSER CAP Filed June 20. 1956 INVEN TOR. was u lnsal ArraP/E/ United States JAR DISPENSER CAP Niels C. Thomsen, Ferndale, Mich.

Applicationlune 20, 195.6,,Serial No. 592,67 6

i Claims. (Cl. 222-485) This invention relates to a jar dispenser :cap, and more particularly :toa valve assembly adapted for-use in conjunction with a conventional type of apertured cover-for a-jar or the like.

'HBI'StOfOIE, in Mason jars, 'folrexample, certain types employed a threaded cover over. the upper open end which-cover is centrally aperturedgand ;'is adapted to 'hold down a removable glass .or -other disc whichis suitably sealed with respect to .the :upper Open end ofathe jar.-

It is the object of the present invention to utilize a novel valve assembly in conjunction with such apertured cap and jar to replace the glass or other type of 1remov- :able disc.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a novel valve :assembly which includes apertures defining a vent and a spaced spout whereby fluid may be conveniently poured from the containeror jar and wherein the valve may be adjusted for closing ofi the said vent or spout.

It is thel further object of the present .inventiQn to.. pr0- 'vide a simple 'valve assembly whichincludes a bottom supporting disc adapted to be held down by the apertured container cap over the open end of the jar and to have mounted upon said disc and secured thereon a rotatable valve.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specifications and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational section of a jar incorporating the present valve assembly.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing valve in closed position.

Fig. 4 is an elevational section of the present normally concave valve supporting disc.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 there is fragmentan'ly shown a conventional type of glass or Mason jar 11 having an open end 12 exteriorly threaded at 13.

A conventional type of hold-down cover 14 with threaded flange 15 is shown threaded over the open end of the jar. This type of cover is oftentimes used to hold down a third closure disc often made of glass and which is suitably sealed against the open edge of the jar.

The present invention contemplates the substitution for such closure disc of the present valve assembly which is positioned in the same place over the open end of the jar and is efiectively held down by the cover or cap 14-15, which is centrally apertured as at 16.

The valve assembly includes a pair of plastic parts such as constructed of polyethylene or similar material.

The valve assembly includes a flexible normally concave disc 17 as shown in Fig. 4 which has a central opening 18 therethrough, and also formed therethrough lice.

2 a a pair of diametrically opposed vent and spout defining apertures :20 and 21.. Theconcavity of the disc is .generally indicated. a 1. 'and maybe slightly exaggerated for- PL P S of illustration.

A manually rotatablediscdike .yalve 22 of less diameter than disc 17 is centrally juxtaposed loosely upon disc 17. At the same time the saidvalveis loosely spaced within aperture 1d of cap 14.

Uppn the top surface of valve 22 there is provided an elon ated raised handle. 23 by which valve 22 is manua ly otatable.

The stem 2.4 depends. centrally from they undersurface of said valve and is of a heightsubstantially the thickness of d sc 17; i

tapered? andhslightly enlarged disc retainer 25 de pre ation; he end ofisaid stem and. istor a width in sn ps int the locki positi n shown in Fig. 1.

7 While it would be possible to constru-ct the disc. as initially perfectly flat, it is believed that where the disc is. slightly concave normally, the flattening .ofsueh disc n embly cr ates a li ht tension be we n th al n he i c, d velqn nesnfi jc n f a s w s t a ntain a snug relationbetween the disc andthe relatively at b a v 22- h a su e .further ha he v ve willre nain in the particular adjusted position as more fullysdescribed. V A I i V ln'thepre'sent preferred embodiment the apertures 20 and 21 in the disc are substantially triangular in shape for illustration.

The valve 22 has formed therethrough at its periphery a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 26 and 27 which correspond in shape and size to disc apertures 20 and 21 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 2 with valve 22 properly adjusted valve apertures 26 and 27 therein register with disc apertures 20 and 21 whereby fluids may be easily poured from jar 11.

In Fig. 3 the valve 22 has been rotated so that apertures 26 and 27 are now out of registry with the disc apertures, etfectively closing off said disc apertures and sealing the fluid within the jar.

A peripheral slot 28 is found in valve 22 to cooperatively receive the stationary stop 29 which forms a part of and projects upwardly from stationary disc 17.

Stop 29 cooperates with valve 22 at one end of slot 28 thus limiting a counterclockwise manual rotation of valve 22 so that the valve apertures properly register with the disc apertures.

As shown in Fig. 3 the said stop 29 likewise registers with a portion of the valve at the opposite end of slot 28 for limiting clockwise closing of said valve.

In the present preferred embodiment of the invention said valve is formed with the integral handle 23 projecting upwardly from one side, whereas the stem 24 and disc retainer 25 project from its other side and are integral therewith.

In view of the known flexible character of the plastic material employed the assembly of the disc and valve is easy. Once assembled the said valve may not become accidentally disassembled and for most purposes is permanently mounted pivotally upon the valve disc and is under tension due to the elastic character of the normally concave disc.

Having described my invention reference should now be had to the claims Which follow.

I claim: a 7

.1. A valve assembly comprising a flexible normally concave disc with a central opening and a pair of diametrically opposed vent and spout defining apertures therein inwardly of its periphery, and a manually rotatable flat disk-like valve of less diameter than said disk centrally juxtaposed loosely upon the disk, a stem depending centrally from said valve of a height substantially the thickness of the disc loosely projected through said opening with said disc flattened against the undersurface of the valve, and a disc retainer on the end of said stem of a width in excess of said opening, there being a pair of diametrically opposed apertures formed through the valve at its periphery corresponding to said first apertures and registerable therewith, said valve being rotatable relative to the disc for closing off said disc apertures, the flattening of said disk creating an internal tension for increased frictional engagement between said disk and valve to prevent accidental opening thereof. I

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, there being a pcripheral slot formed in said valve, and a stop projecting upwardly from said disc, said slot being movable relative to said stop with portions of said valve at the ends of said slot alternately engageable with the stop.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1, said valve being formed with an elongated handle projecting upwardly therefrom, and with said stem and disc retainer as an integral part thereof.

4. In combination with a jar with an externally threaded open end, a flattened normally concave disc positioned over said end, a disc engaging and retaining hold-down cover threaded over said end having a circular central aperture approximately the internal diameter of said end, said disc having a central opening and a pair of diametrically opposed vent and spout defined apertures therein inwardly of its periphery, a manually rotatable disc-like valve loosely positioned within said cap aperture centrally juxtaposed loosely upon the disk and coplanar with the cap top, a stern depending centrally from said valve of a height substantially the thickness of the disc loosely projected through said opening with said disc flattened against the undersurface of the valve, and a disc retainer on the end of said stem of a width in excess of said opening, there being a pair of diametrically opposed apertures formed through the valve at its periphery corresponding to said first apertures and registerable therewith, said valve being rotatable relative to the disc for closing off said disc apertures, the flattening of said disk creating an internal tension for increased frictional engagement between said disk and valve to prevent accidental opening thereof.

5. A valve assembly comprising a flexible normally concave disc with a central opening and a pair of diametrically opposed vent and spout defining apertures therein inwardly of its periphery, and a manually rotatable disc-like valve of less diameter than said disc centrally juxtaposed loosely upon the disc, a stem depend ing centrally from said valve of a height substantially the thickness of the disc loosely projected through said opening with said disc flattened against the undersurface of the valve, a disc retainer on the end of said stem of a width in excess of said opening, there being a pair of diametrically opposed apertures formed through the valve at its periphery corresponding to said first apertures and registerable therewith, said valve being rotatable relative to the disc for closing ofi said disc apertures, and cooperable stop means between said valve and disc limiting relative opening and closing movement of said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 693,350 Fletcher Feb. 11, 1902 

